Smudging

CAUTION: People and/or animals with breathing problems such as asthma should not stay in or enter the area being smudged until the smoke has completed cleared away.

The Art of Smudging:

Smudging is the burning of herbs, generally bundled sticks made up of various herbs, to purify, heal, bless, renew energy, and cleanse negative energy from spaces, objects, and people. Smudging, also known as sagging, is a ritual to cleanse your mind, your space, and the energy around you.

Smudging might also help if you are feeling ill, depressed, angry, or resentful; after an argument; or if you feel a negative presence or entities in your home or location, etc...

Types of Smudging Herbs:

White Sage: Known as Sacred Sage, Bee Sage, or California Sage, it is the most widely used smudging herb. It has a strong and pungent scent believed to hold powerful cleansing properties, making it ideal for creating a sacred and tranquil atmosphere for meditation and relaxation practices. White sage is generally used in smudging to clear and consecrate space. Its smoke is said to draw positive spirits and discourage the presence of unwanted energies.
Blue Sage: Also known as Desert Sage, New Mexico Sage, or Grandmother Sage, it has a light, heavenly aroma that is great for cleansing the energy of your home and inducing calm and relaxation.
Black Sage: Known as Dream Weed, Magical Sage, or Mugwort, it has a strong, heavy aroma thought to draw your energy and consciousness into other realms. It is often burned before bedtime to promote restful sleep and peaceful dreams.
Yerba Santa: Also known as Holy Herb, Bear Weed, Mountain Balm, or Consumptive's Weed, it has a distinctly uplifting aroma that stimulates inner courage. It is also used to increase psychic powers and facilitate healing and protection.
Sweetgrass: This is the grass you find braided at the store. When burnt, it releases a sweet and light scent often used after burning sage to follow through with the smudging ritual.
Frankincense: A dried resin from the African olibanum tree, it has a long history of association with meditation, healing, cleansing, and protecting the soul.
Myrrh: A resin from a nearly leafless Middle Eastern shrub, it is commonly used for meditation, spirituality, happiness, transformation, strength, confidence, and stability.
Bayberry: The wax from the bayberry shrub releases a delicious smell when burnt and is often used for end-of-year celebrations to ring in a clean slate.
Lavender: Known for attracting peace and happiness, and providing restful sleep, it can reduce depression, grief, and sorrow.
Rosemary: Used to remove negative energy, it is soothing and can bring about a sense of peace.
Copal or Palo Santo can be used to clear energies that are more stubborn, persistent, negative, and/or heavy. Palo Santo comes in wooden sticks. Copal is a resin and comes in three varieties that are linked to their level of strength – White for blessings, gold for manifestations, and black to clear out dark energies. To burn this resin, you will need to place it upon a pre-lit, charcoal disk inside a container that is heat resistant and fireproof.

These herbs can be used individually or in combination to meet specific intentions and needs during smudging rituals.

You should use a new stick/bundle each time you perform a smudging/cleansing if you are removing negative entities from your home or location.

To use a stick:

Light one end; it will go out on its own; and then, fan the smoke around yourself {recommended to fan with a feather} or your space to clear negative energies.

Steps for Smudging:

#1:

If you are smudging a space/home, open all of the windows and doors before you begin {It is important to stay safe}.

Next, set an overall intention for the space you wish to cleanse, and for each room if there is more than one. Remember to breathe slowly and deeply while thinking about your intention.

Say a prayer of cleansing such as, “I cleanse my home of any and all impurities, negativity, or unwanted energy that does not serve or support the safety of my home. I expel all unwanted entities an energies. I am grateful for all the love under my roof, and for the love withheld in these very walls .”

Speaking your prayer or blessing out loud allows the power and energy of your voice to declare and direct the energy; you may say any type of prayer or blessing you like from simple to elaborate as long as it is meaningful to you. {This is just an example but you can use your own words and create your own prayer.}

Light the smudge stick until it catches fire then extinguish the flame by gently blowing it out and let the smoke billow from the stick/bundle like incense.

Use a smudge bowl, ashtray, abalone shell {traditional}, or other nonflammable container to catch falling embers or ashes.

Cleanse yourself before you begin to smudge your home or any location. Fan the smoke gently around your body from head to toe {recommended to fan with a feather} and imagine the smoke creating waves of positive energy and protection that flow all over you. Envision the smoke carrying away any negativity {i.e. anger, stress, etc.} that surrounds you and replacing it with a deep sense of calmness and serenity.

Smudge your home or location one room at a time; start at the front door and fan the smoke gently {recommended to fan with a feather} by waving the stick over and around the door while blessing everyone who enters and stating that only beautiful and positive energy is allowed to enter.

While you do this, imagine that the smoke is absorbing all of the toxicity, problems, negativity as well as any other energy you wish to eliminate. Next, do the same for all of the other doors and windows, again stating that only energy that is healing, beautiful, blessing, full of light, etc. is allowed to enter.

As you watch the smoke drift out of the windows and dissipate, imagine the negative energy leaving with it and only leaving positive energy behind.

Now move from room to room smudging areas that may contain strong negative feelings. Make sure to get the smoke behind doors, along walls and ceiling and wall joints, and in corners and small spaces such as cupboards and crawlspaces where energy tends to get “trapped.”

With each and every room you bless allow the smoke to carry out any and all negative energy.

Once you have finished blessing every room, cleanse yourself with the smudge stick by cupping your hands over the smoke and waving it around your body and face as you would when washing with water.

Imagine any residual negative energy leaving your body, home or location and exiting away leaving each room only filled with positive energy.

Now, take a moment to pause and feel the new energy of your home or location. It should feel much more clear, light, and positive.

Once you have completed your smudging, walk out of your front and back door, close it, and smudge around the door and door frame.

You can lay a row of salt to protect the entry ways to the home or location.

Remember to express appreciation for the success of your blessing and extinguish your smudge stick by gently dipping the stick into a bowl of wet sand or water to ensure that it is extinguished. {REMEMBER this step in order to prevent a fire}

Once your space is clear, routine clearing will help you keep the energy level in your space high and clear of unwanted negative energies.

Feel free to repeat the above as often as needed.